This morning (Wednesday, January 24), police constable Blake Sanders came before the court to give evidence.

He was one of the armed officers who handled a hoard of weapons and ammunition found at a playground in Chelmer Village during the early hours of August 6.

Essex Police are still looking for 18 year-old Bradley Blundell in connection with John Pordage's murder

During questioning by Louise Oakley, junior prosecutor in the case, asked Pc Sanders to explain how he came to be involved in the recovery of weapons just over 24 hours after Mr Pordage was shot.

The officer, who is based at Stansted, revealed how he was asked to attend Chelmsford Police Station as part of the murder investigation, arriving at around 2am on August 6.

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After receiving a more detailed verbal briefing, he and a number of other officers attended the playground in Stanley Rise, where they were shown to overgrown shrubbery by a man who was in police custody at the time.

From the bushes at the edge of the playground, Pc Sanders and Pc Hawkins removed five bags, with the whole operation captured by another officer wearing a body camera.

One bag contained drug paraphernalia, including green leaves which were thought to be cannabis.

A black JD drawstring bag removed from the bushes was found to have 11 live blue shotgun cartridges and a small black revolver.

Inside that gun there were five bullets, with space for three more.

Police at the scene of the shooting

A green canvas bag was loaded with nine shotgun cartridges, two revolver cartridges and a sawn-off shotgun.

The fourth bag, an Adidas rucksack, contained two five pence coins, two cigarette butts, a black puffa jacket, a blue plastic cup and a bottle of Ribena.

The fifth and final bag was grey and made out of plastic and had a Nike backpack within it.

Who was John Pordage?

He was well-known face in Chelmsford, he was described by his mother Suzanne Wilson, as an "accomplished artist who loved creativity and design".

An inquest into his death found he died as a result of a gunshot wound to the chest.

The gym enthusiast and bodybuilder, who worked as an electrician, was a frequent and prominent member of Ab Salute gym in Brook Street.

A memorial photograph dedicated to the "gentle giant" has been erected on the wall of the gym where he loved to workout.

His funeral took place at the South Chapel in Chelmsford Crematorium on September 6.

Photographs, flowers and tokens have been left at the front of the forecourt where he was gunned down.

From inside the backpack, which had been locked with a silver padlock, officers removed three unspent blue shotgun cartridges, a black glove, a grey glove, drug paraphernalia, an empty cartridge box, a single bullet, a collection of other plastic bags and a £10 note.

Footage played to the jury showed the officers making the weapons safe so they could be transported back to Chelmsford Police Station.

A prison van headed for Chelmsford Crown Court

Pc Sanders guided the court through the video as it played, pointing out how he and a fellow officer ensured the weapons would not cause anyone harm.

Turning to the removal of the shotgun, he said: “Essentially it was wrapped in a bag wrapped in a bag.